We need heroes

When President Obama spoke about Alex Rodriguez yesterday, he almost said what I wanted him to say. We can all be disappointed in our champions, but I find it morally repugnant that we can so quickly throw them under a bus. What kind of example does Alex Rodriguez set for our children?

He is a role model. He made a mistake an eon ago and has since apologized for it. We need more heroes to inspire greatness. I am not sure I would ever recommend anyone stand in the lime-light for fear that they will be ripped apart for their humanity.

Yes, he lied. I lied yesterday about how much I liked my breakfast. Sue me.

Yes, he did something that wasn’t exactly ethical. By that standard, President Kennedy should be castigated for any number of things he did within the bounds of the law. Or, say, Ty Cobb who was a NOTORIOUS cheater. He was so good at cheating, it was seen as a skill.

Yes. He admitted it. And now people are criticizing his apology! It sounded fake, he looked like a jackass. He wasn’t sincere.

Jesus Christ. He isn’t a professional apologist- he is a 33 year old athlete who hasn’t had a second to himself since he was 18. Sorry, but I think you are holding him to an impossibly high standard.

And we are, by the way, calling him some pretty serious names. If I called you these very names, in front of 30-40 million viewers, I would love to see you do it any better.

In a world where the imperfect do everything in their power to get ahead of the game and we tolerate a myriad of examples of incompetence for no other reason that the errors of lesser men can easily be overcome.

If Alex Rodriguez is guilty of anything it is ego. He wanted to get even better at something that he was already the best in the world at. He wanted to improve.

Just so we are clear – he wanted to be even better at something he was already the best at. And he didn’t break a single rule to do so.

His defenders say he didn’t cheat – his critics say it was because there wasn’t a rule in place to break. His critics say he lied, but his defenders say it was because he thought that people wouldn’t understand.

I think there should be exactly one test: Do we enjoy watching you perform? If we do, we should be willing to say “you can’t hit in October” and call you “May-Rod” ™ . We shouldn’t be so quick to criticize the training or single you out. There were another 103 players, some of whom may already be in the Hall of Fame- Ricky, I am looking at you.

Why do we love to tear down Alex Rodriguez? Because we are jealous. And don’t even get me started on Pete Rose – he certainly broke a rule. As a Manager. He is still the all time hits leader, and I am confident he wasn’t betting against himself.

All we are going to do is eliminate a class of heroes.

And it is a big class.

There is no professional sports franchise that doesn’t have to deal with this issue. The NFL have designed an anti-doping regime that actually encourages healthy cycles for steroid use. MLB players are singled out for their successes.

There is no doubt that this will be remembered as the steroid era of baseball. It is a shame, because there have been some unbelievable accomplishments during this era. Forever tainted by the quills of lesser men who could never hold a, pardon the pun, candlestick to the people they criticize.


Do we take Honus Wagner out of the Hall because he didn’t have to compete against African Americans? Do we take Ty Cobb out for hating African Americans? Do we take Babe Ruth out for drinking during prohibition?

The answer to all of these questions is no. And in fifty years, most of today’s heroes will be placed in the hall posthumously. Why? Because the rules of the game will change, and their crimes will not even be seen as crimes anymore.

Like, say, wearing a goalie mask – or using pine tar. Or chalk on the ball.

We need more heroes.